8 replies to this topic

[antgenius123]

Ok so I'm planning to catch a mature colony. I've located several different species but my main aim is Pheidole Sp. since they are common here. So any tips or advice on how to catch a colony would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

Edited by antgenius123, January 31 2017 - 9:40 PM.

[T.C.]

I tried on several different occasions. Any ants nesting in soil I never got to the queen. However, I have gotten whole camponotous colonies in logs with a chain saw and wood splitter. Also I caught a mature myrmica sp. colony in a flood. The picture below shows how large the colony was. As you could imagine things got a little messy with ants going everywhere. However I managed to capture most of them. Fairly painful though.

 

 

This is what I put them in. Half were still hanging out in the out world when I took this picture (Don't pick on me about how much glue I used )

 

 

Edited by T.C., January 31 2017 - 10:07 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

If you plan ahead of your target species nuptial flights, place something (like a brick) somewhere a queen might like to make a nest.

 

Don't disturb it........................................................................................uh,ah. I said don't touch it. Resist all urges.

If your lucky,.......I would wait probably a whole season (I know right, you shoulda done this 3 months ago) you can come out and gently lift the brick.

 

Be ready, there could be a queen under there.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 2 2017 - 10:36 PM.

[Leo]

well, i dug up a large colony of pheidole from a plant pot by flipping the pot upside down

everything tumbled out

Edited by Leo, February 1 2017 - 1:37 AM.

[Shareallicu]

If you plan ahead of your target species nuptial flights, place something (like a brick) somewhere a queen might like to make a nest.

 

Don't disturb it........................................................................................uh,ah. I said don't touch it. Resist all urges.

If our lucky,.......I would wait probably a whole season (I know right, you shoulda done this 3 months ago) you can come out and gently lift the brick.

 

Be ready, there could be a queen under there.

I did this to a formica colony last month   I just don't know when to look under it.  i'm thinking around April

[Loops117]

The flooding method works with some species as well. It's how i caught my very first colony in a planter.

[Alabama Anter]

The flooding method works with some species as well. It's how i caught my very first colony in a planter.

Hehe that's how I caught a 300-500 worker Invicta colony

 

Also antgenius, I don't recommend this at ALL, because ants dig very deep in general to avoid predators, and if you are digging Pheidole and they are VERY small, so you may miss the queen and end up killing the whole colony. I would recommend waiting for a flight. Patience is a virtue

Edited by Alabama Anter, February 3 2017 - 11:24 AM.

[drtrmiller]

I tried on several different occasions. Any ants nesting in soil I never got to the queen. However, I have gotten whole camponotous colonies in logs with a chain saw and wood splitter. Also I caught a mature myrmica sp. colony in a flood. The picture below shows how large the colony was. As you could imagine things got a little messy with ants going everywhere. However I managed to capture most of them. Fairly painful though.

 

 

Collecting a wild colony via flooding method is mostly hit or miss, depending greatly on the soil composition and water table in your area.  I can't tell you how many times I've observed flooded colonies, and the queen wasn't present in the mass.

 

 

 

My experience is that collecting mature colonies works well when the queen is easy to access, such as in a twig or small branch, under a large rock, under bark, or in a solar mound on a cool spring morning.

 

The larger the colony, the more difficult it may be to locate the queen, as large colonies are generally more fortified and protected from predators, having been around for years.

[T.C.]

 

I tried on several different occasions. Any ants nesting in soil I never got to the queen. However, I have gotten whole camponotous colonies in logs with a chain saw and wood splitter. Also I caught a mature myrmica sp. colony in a flood. The picture below shows how large the colony was. As you could imagine things got a little messy with ants going everywhere. However I managed to capture most of them. Fairly painful though.

 

 

Collecting a wild colony via flooding method is mostly hit or miss, depending greatly on the soil composition and water table in your area.  I can't tell you how many times I've observed flooded colonies, and the queen wasn't present in the mass.

 

 

 

My experience is that collecting mature colonies works well when the queen is easy to access, such as in a twig or small branch, under a large rock, under bark, or in a solar mound on a cool spring morning.

 

The larger the colony, the more difficult it may be to locate the queen, as large colonies are generally more fortified and protected from predators, having been around for years.

 

This colony had multiple queens. Also i am not speaking of the alates that were in this mess. I seen like 2 or 3 queens within the pile that were fertile with the wings off.